Rotating vertical storage system for barrels

ABSTRACT

A rotating vertical storage system for barrels is provided. The system may comprise a first vertical support tower and a second vertical support tower. A first vertical support tower may have a first upper sprocket wheel and a first lower sprocket wheel with a first carrier chain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower first sprocket wheels. A second vertical support tower may have a second upper sprocket wheel and a second lower sprocket wheel with a second carrier chain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower second sprocket wheels. The system may further include a first cradle with a first end coupled to the first carrier chain and with a second end coupled to the second carrier chain. The cradle may comprise a plurality of barrel receiving valleys adapted to removably secure a plurality of barrels such as kegs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 15/526,669filed on May 12, 2017 which was a 35 U.S.C. 371 National Stage Entry ofInternational Application No. PCT/IB2015/059307 filed on Dec. 3, 2015,which claims the benefit of US provisional patent application Nos.62/087,737, filed on Dec. 4, 2014, 62/116,465, filed on Feb. 15, 2015,62/161,931, filed on May 15, 2015, and 62/196,610, filed on Jul. 24,2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This patent specification relates to the field of vertical storagesystems for barrels such as kegs and other items. More specifically,this patent specification relates to new systems and devices for storingand rotating keg barrels and the like to maximize valuable warehousefloor space.

BACKGROUND

Over the past several years the explosion in Stock/Shelf Keeping Units(SKUs) has added considerable costs to beverage distributors supplychains. This explosion has created increase operational costs relatingto efficiencies around storing and picking product in warehouses. TheSKU explosion is especially affects those roles and processes requiringcontinuous physical work methods i.e. warehouse picking & load building.

For decades direct store delivery (DSD) distribution consisted ofhandling a few produced products for distribution. In past years when afew additional brands and package innovations were introduced to adistributors supply chain the additional SKU's were usually managed wellwithin the warehouse.

In the last decade, market demands forced an unprecedented expansion ofmore product categories and packages driving SKU complexity within thewarehouse, constraining the traditional supply chain processes andstorage systems. The ability to handle the number of increasing SKUs ina warehouse has become a challenge within itself.

One particular challenge within a distributor's warehouse is the abilityto store & pick beer kegs effectively in efficiently. Currently beerdistributors place barrel kegs on a static storage racks/shelf to bestored and picked at a later time. The unique characteristics of a halfkegs with a weigh of approximately 165 lbs. and a width of 16″ and aheight of 24″ make the handling of kegs particularly challenging.Warehouse pickers can only safely “pick” this heavy SKU's fromapproximately 1.6-4.5 feet off the ground without the use of additionalequipment. Any higher pick location would prove to be unsafe from anergonomic perspective. Given this physical constraint the number ofdedicated pick locations needed for the growing number of SKU's requiresa distributor to utilize a large amount of square footage to accommodatethe needed pick locations thus driving additional operational costs.

Therefore, a need exists for an effective and efficient means to storeand pick heavy kegs, barrels, drums, Co2 containers etc. without the useof additional equipment such as a fork-lift truck and in a safeergonomic manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rotating vertical storage system for barrels is provided. In someembodiments, the system may comprise a first vertical support tower anda second vertical support tower. A first vertical support tower may havea first upper sprocket wheel and a first lower sprocket wheel with afirst carrier chain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower firstsprocket wheels. A second vertical support tower may have a second uppersprocket wheel and a second lower sprocket wheel with a second carrierchain rotationally coupled to the upper and lower second sprocketwheels. The system may further include a first cradle with a first endcoupled to the first carrier chain and with a second end coupled to thesecond carrier chain. The cradle may comprise a plurality of barrelreceiving valleys adapted to removably secure a plurality of barrels. Amotor may be operably connected to the first carrier chain andconfigured to rotate the first carrier chain and first cradle in avertical direction.

In further embodiments, the system may comprise a plurality of barrelsremovably secured within the plurality of barrel receiving valleys, withthe plurality of barrels vertically oriented relative to each other andthe system may be configured to vertically rotate each of the cradles ina vertical direction allowing the cradles to be moved generally closerto or farther from a floor surface supporting the system.

According to one aspect consistent with the principles of the invention,a method for vertically storing a plurality of barrels is provided. Themethod may include: providing a first vertical support tower secured toa ground surface and having a first upper sprocket wheel and a firstlower sprocket wheel with a first carrier chain rotationally coupled tosaid upper and lower first sprocket wheels; providing a second verticalsupport tower secured to the ground surface and having a second uppersprocket wheel and a second lower sprocket wheel with a second carrierchain rotationally coupled to said upper and lower second sprocketwheels; providing a first cradle with a first end coupled to said firstcarrier chain and with a second end coupled to said second carrierchain, said first cradle comprising a plurality of barrel receivingvalleys adapted to removably secure a plurality of barrels; providing amotor operably connected to the first carrier chain of said firstvertical support tower; placing a first barrel into a first barrelreceiving valley of the first cradle wherein said first cradle is at afirst height above the ground surface; and causing the motor to rotatethe first carrier chain of said first vertical support tower and saidfirst cradle so that said first cradle is moved to a second height abovethe ground surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an exampleand are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, inwhich like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of an example of a keg barrelaccording to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an example of a kegbarrel according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of an example of a cradle with onekeg barrel located in one barrel receiving valley of a vertical storagesystem according to various alternative embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 depicts a front partial perspective view of an example of acradle of a vertical storage system according to various alternativeembodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to preferred embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 6 shows a front elevation view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to various alternative embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 7 depicts a front perspective view of an alternative example of acradle of a vertical storage system according to various alternativeembodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side elevation view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to various preferred embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 9 shows a side elevation view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to various alternative embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 10 depicts a side elevation view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to various alternative embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates a side elevation view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to various alternative embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 12 shows a front perspective view of an example of a portion of acradle of a vertical storage system according to various alternativeembodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 depicts a front perspective view of an example of a cradlewithin a vertical storage system according to various embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates a back perspective view of an example of a cradle ofa vertical storage system according to various embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 15 shows a front elevation view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to various embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 16 depicts a front view of an example of a cradle of a verticalstorage system according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 17 illustrates a side elevation view of an example of a cradle of avertical storage system according to various embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 18 shows a front elevation view of a cradle of a vertical storagesystem according to various alternative embodiments described herein.

FIG. 19 depicts a front elevation view of a cradle of a vertical storagesystem according to various alternative embodiments described herein.

FIG. 20 illustrates a front elevation view of an example of a cradle ofa vertical storage system according to various embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 21 shows a front elevation view of a cradle of a vertical storagesystem according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 22 depicts a front elevation view of a cradle of a vertical storagesystem according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 23 illustrates a side perspective view of an example of the loadbearing chain attachment mechanism for a cradle of a vertical storagesystem according to various embodiments described herein.

LISTING OF ELEMENTS IN THE FIGURES

-   -   (11) lip    -   (12) Cradle Barrel Glide    -   (13) front cradle bar    -   (13A) Front Curved Barrel Cradle Bar    -   (13B) Front Straight Barrel Cradle Bar    -   (14A) Center Curved Barrel Cradle Bar    -   (14B) Center Straight Barrel Cradle Bar    -   (15A) Back Curved Barrel Cradle Bar    -   (15B) Back Straight Barrel Cradle Bar    -   (16) Horizontal Cradle Member    -   (18) Cradle Load Pin    -   (20) Front Barrel Retention Bar    -   (20A) Front Barrel Retention Bar    -   (20B) Front Barrel Retention Bar    -   (20C) Front Barrel Retention Bar    -   (20D) Front Barrel Retention Bar    -   (20E) Front Barrel Retention Bar    -   (20F) Front Barrel Retention Bar    -   (22) motor    -   (24) support tab    -   (25) front restraint member    -   (30) Keg Barrel    -   (31) Barrel Rim    -   (72) Vertical Plain    -   (73) Cradle Apparatus Bottom    -   (74) Outer Keg Dimension    -   (75) Carrier Lock Nut    -   (76) Carrier Flat Washer    -   (77) Carrier Bushing    -   (78) Carrier Bolt    -   (79) Carrier Coupling Plate    -   (79A) Carrier Coupling Plate Slot    -   (80) Barrel Carrier Platform    -   (81) Side Containment Bar    -   (82) Back Barrel Containment Plate    -   (83A) Top Curved Barrel Containment Bar    -   (83B) Center Curved Barrel Containment Bar    -   (83C) Bottom Curved Barrel Containment Bar    -   (101A) Front First Vertical Frame Member    -   (101B) Back First Vertical Frame Member    -   (102A) Front Second Vertical Frame Member    -   (102B) Back Second Vertical Frame Member    -   (103A) First Front Support Leg    -   (103B) First Back Support Leg    -   (104A) Second Front Support Leg    -   (104B) Second Back Support Leg    -   (105A) First Transverse Beam    -   (400J) Tenth Barrel Position    -   (400K) Eleventh Barrel Position    -   (400L) Twelfth Barrel Position    -   (32) Barrel Handle    -   (33) rounded wall    -   (41) Cradle    -   (42) barrel receiving valley    -   (43) first end of cradle    -   (44) second end of cradle    -   (50) rotating Vertical Storage System    -   (55) back restraint member    -   (55A) back depression    -   (56) lateral perimeter wall    -   (60) Carrier Load Plate    -   (61) Front Carrier Load Bar    -   (62) Back Carrier Load Bar    -   (63) Top Lateral Barrel Restraint    -   (64) Lateral Barrel Restraint    -   (65) Back Restraint Plate    -   (65A) Back Adjustable Restraint Plate Handle    -   (66A) Front Receiver Slot    -   (66B) Middle Receiver Slot    -   (66C) Back Receiver Slot    -   (67A) front Restraint Plate    -   (67B) back restraint plate    -   (68) Flexible Restraint line    -   (70) Horizontal Plain    -   (71) Angled Plain    -   (105B) Second Transverse Beam    -   (110A) First Carrier Chain    -   (110B) Second Carrier Chain    -   (121A) First upper Sprocket Wheel    -   (121B) Second upper Sprocket Wheel    -   (125A) First lower Sprocket Wheel    -   (125B) Second lower Sprocket Wheel    -   (123A) First Top Mounting Shaft    -   (123B) Second Top Mounting Shaft    -   (124A) Bottom First Mounting Shaft    -   (124B) Bottom Second Mounting Shaft    -   (151) first vertical support tower    -   (152) second vertical support tower    -   (300) Ground surface    -   (400A) First Barrel Position    -   (400B) Second Barrel Position    -   (400C) Third Barrel Position    -   (400D) Forth Barrel Position    -   (400E) Fifth Barrel Position    -   (400F) Sixth Barrel Position    -   (400G) Seventh Barrel Position    -   (400H) Eighth Barrel Position    -   (4001) Ninth Barrel Position

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by onehaving ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number oftechniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefitand each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in somecases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sakeof clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possiblecombination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion.Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with theunderstanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope ofthe invention and the claims.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”,“right”, “rear”, “front”, “side”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, andderivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1.However, one will understand that the invention may assume variousalternative orientations and step sequences, except where expresslyspecified to the contrary. Therefore, the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expresslystate otherwise.

A new vertical storage system pertaining to kegs, barrels, drums,beverage containers (referred to herein as “barrels” or “keg barrel”) isdiscussed herein. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident,however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may bepracticed without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theinvention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

The present invention will now be described by example and throughreferencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternativeembodiments. FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a keg barrel 30 thatis represented with an upper rim 31 which may comprise one or more, suchas two, keg handles 32 at one end of the keg barrel 30. FIG. 2illustrates a bottom perspective view of a keg barrel 30 with aprotruding keg lower rim 31. Generally, a barrel 30 may comprise arounded wall 33 with a first or upper rim 31 coupled to the top of therounded wall 33 and with a second or lower rim 31 coupled to the bottomof the rounded wall 33. Although standard keg barrels are depicted insome of the examples and figures, other types and sizes of barrels arecontemplated herein.

Turning now to FIGS. 3-7 and 13-16 a cradle 41 of a rotating verticalstorage system 50 may comprise one or more barrel receiving valleys 42allowing the cradle 41 to function as a carrier of one or more barrels30. Each barrel receiving valley 42 may be adapted to removably secure abarrel 30 allowing the rotating vertical storage system 50 to removablysecure one, two three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more, such as aplurality, of barrels 30 in a cradle 41. In further embodiments, arotating vertical storage system 50 may comprise one, two three, four,five, six, seven, eight, or more, such as a plurality, of cradles 41with each cradle 41 comprising one or more barrel receiving valleys 42.In some embodiments, a barrel receiving valley 42 may be “u” shaped, “v”shaped or other suitable shapes and sizes to receive a barrel 30 orother storable item. In yet other embodiments, a barrel receiving valley42 may be round, oval, square shaped and may include round or circular(or other shaped) cavities formed within a rotating shelf and configuredto receive a barrel 30.

FIG. 3 represents a front perspective view an example of a cradle 41 ofa rotating vertical storage system 50 (FIGS. 13-16) for barrels 30 inaccordance with preferred embodiments. In this example the cradle 41preferably comprises; a front carrier load bar 61 and a back carrierload bar 62 that are parallel to each other. Each carrier load bar 61/62is attached to a carrier load plate 60 at distal ends 43, 44, making upthe frame of the cradle 41. The cradle 41 is preferably designed with alateral barrel restraint(s) 64 to prevent a keg barrel 30 from movingside to side in a lateral direction. In this embodiment, a backrestraint plate 67B and front restraint plate 67A is used to accommodatea Quarter Barrel size design which is a popular type or size of kegbarrel 30. In further embodiments, one or both restraint plates 67A,67B, may be optional depending on the size of the keg barrels 30. Forexample, a back restraint plate 67B may not be needed for Sixth size kegbarrels 30 and/or for Half size keg barrels, while a back restraintplate 67B may be used for Quarter size keg barrels 30. It is understoodthat this back containment element such as the back restraint plate 67Bcan be fixed in alternative designs. In some embodiments and as shown byFIG. 5, the lateral barrel restraints 64 may be configured with angledor contoured sidewalls suitable for making contact with a keg barrel 30and preventing the lateral or side to side movement of the keg barrel 30while being transported in the cradle 41.

FIG. 5 represents a front perspective view an example of a cradle 41 inaccordance with preferred embodiments. In this example the cradle 41preferably comprises; a front carrier load bar 61 and a back carrierload bar 62 that are parallel to each other. Each carrier load bar 61/62is preferably attached to a carrier load plate 60 at distal ends makingthe frame of the cradle 41. The cradle 41 is preferably designed withone or more lateral barrel restraint(s) 64 to prevent a keg barrel 30from moving side to side.

In some embodiments, a barrel receiving valley 42 of a cradle 41 may beconfigured to arrest the movement of a barrel 30 placed within thebarrel receiving valley 42 thereby allowing the barrel 30 to remainstationary in the barrel receiving valley 42 while the cradle 41 isvertically rotated. In further embodiments, the barrel receiving valley42 may comprise or be formed by a back restraint member 55, a frontrestraint member 25, and/or two lateral barrel restraints 64 which maybe positioned on the cradle 41 to contact portions of a barrel 30received on the cradle 41. In preferred embodiments the forwardrestraint 11 and back adjustable restraint plate 65 are configured toprevent the keg barrel 30 from moving beyond desired distance in aforward or rear (longitudinal) direction while the lateral barrelrestraints 64 are configured to prevent the keg barrel 30 from movingbeyond a desired distance in a side to side (lateral) direction.

The cradle 41 may comprise a plurality of lateral barrel restraints 64configured to arrest the lateral movement of a barrel 30 placed within abarrel receiving valley 42. Preferably, each barrel receiving valley 42may comprise two or more lateral barrel restraints 64 which may eachform a lateral perimeter wall 56 of a barrel receiving valley 42. Thelateral perimeter walls 56 of a barrel receiving valley 42 may contactthe rounded wall 33 of a barrel 30 to prevent the barrel 30 from rollinglaterally off of the cradle 41. In some embodiments and as best shown bythe example of FIG. 4, a barrel receiving valley 42 may comprise twolateral barrel restraints 64 which may form two lateral perimeter walls56. In other embodiments and as best shown by the example of FIG. 7, abarrel receiving valley 42 may be contoured thereby forming three (left,bottom, right) lateral barrel restraints 64 which may form the threelateral perimeter walls 56. Also shown by FIG. 4, one or more supporttabs 24 may be coupled or integrally formed with the underside of eachlateral barrel restraint 64 and may contact with a support such as afront carrier load bar 61 or back carrier load bar 62. The support tabs24 therefore are capable of providing structural support to the lateralbarrel restraints 64 when a heavy barrel 30 is placed within a barrelreceiving valley 42.

The lateral barrel restraints 64 may be configured to contact a barrel30 at non-right angles to accept the rounded wall 33 of the barrel 30.For example, in some embodiments and as shown by FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, thelateral barrel restraints 64 may be configured with angled or contouredsidewalls suitable for making contact with the rounded wall 33 a kegbarrel 30 and preventing the lateral or side to side movement of the kegbarrel 30 while being transported in the cradle 41. In furtherembodiments, and as shown by FIGS. 7, 13, and 14, the lateral barrelrestraints 64 may be configured with rounded or curved sidewallssuitable for making contact with the rounded wall 33 a keg barrel 30 andpreventing the lateral or side to side movement of the keg barrel 30while being transported in the cradle apparatus 41.

A back restraint member 55 may be configured to arrest the rearwardmovement of a barrel 30 when placed within a barrel receiving valley 42.The back restraint member 55 may be coupled to a lateral barrelrestraint 64 proximate to the back carrier load bar 62 and/or coupled tothe back carrier load bar 62. When a barrel 30 is received in the barrelreceiving valley 42 a rim 31, such as the lower rim, of the barrel maycontact or rest against the back restraint member 55 to arrest therearward movement of the barrel 30. In some embodiments, a lateralbarrel restraint 64, or the cradle 41 itself may comprise one or moreslots 66A, 66B, 66C which may receive portions of a back restraintmember 55 thereby allowing the back restraint member 55 to be coupled todifferent positions on the lateral barrel restraint 64 or cradle 41. Inpreferred embodiments, a back restraint member 55 may comprise a backrestraint plate 65 which may be used to accommodate and arrest therearward movement of various sized kegs 30. A back restraint plate 65may be adjustably positioned by being received in different slots 66,such as in a front receiver slot 66A, middle receiver slot 66B, and backreceiver slot 66C, thereby allowing the back restraint plate 65 to beadjustable to a plurality of positions within a barrel receiving valley42. It is understood that this back restraint member 55 can beadjustably fixed to the cradle 41 in alternative designs. In otherembodiments, a back restraint member 55 may comprise a back restraintplate 67B (FIGS. 3 and 4) which may be permanently coupled to a lateralbarrel restraint 64 proximate to the back carrier load bar 62 and/orcoupled to the back carrier load bar 62. One or more back restraintplates 67B may extend away from a lateral perimeter wall 56 of a barrelreceiving valley 42 to contact a rim 31, such as the lower rim, of abarrel 30 within a barrel receiving valley 42 to arrest the rearwardmovement of the barrel 30.

A front restraint member 25 may be configured to arrest the forwardmovement of a barrel 30 when placed within a barrel receiving valley 42.The front restraint member 25 may be coupled to a lateral barrelrestraint 64 proximate to the front carrier load bar 61 and/or coupledto the front carrier load bar 61 or other locations within the cradle41. When a barrel 30 is received in the barrel receiving valley 42, arim 31, such as the upper rim, of the barrel 30 may contact or restagainst the front restraint member 25 to arrest the forward movement ofthe barrel 30.

One or ordinary skill in the art should recognize that a front restraintmember 25 may be configured in a plurality of shapes and sizes. In someembodiments and as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 8-10, a front restraintmember 25 may comprise a front restraint plate 67A. In furtherembodiments, a front restraint plate 67A may be coupled to one or more,such as two, lateral barrel restraints 64 of a barrel receiving valley42 and may extend away from a lateral perimeter wall 56 of a barrelreceiving valley 42 to contact a rim 31, such as the upper rim, of abarrel 30 within a barrel receiving valley 42 to arrest the forwardmovement of the barrel 30.

In some embodiments, a front restraint member 25 may comprise a lip 11configured to engage or contact the rim 31 of a barrel 30 by extendinginto or towards the barrel receiving valley 42. In further embodimentsand as shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 12, a lip 11 may engage with the upperrim 31 of a barrel 30 by contacting a portion of the rim 31, such as theupper rim, of a barrel 30 within a barrel receiving valley 42 to arrestthe forward movement of the barrel 30. In still further embodiments andas shown by FIG. 12, a lip 11 may engage with the upper rim 31 of abarrel 30 by contacting or protruding through a handle 32 of a barrel 30within a barrel receiving valley 42 to arrest the forward movement ofthe barrel 30. In still further embodiments and as shown by FIG. 8, alip 11 may be configured generally as a protrusion or hook and mayengage with the upper rim 31 of a barrel 30 by contacting a portion ofthe rim 31, such as the upper rim, of a barrel 30 within a barrelreceiving valley 42 to arrest the forward movement of the barrel 30. Ineven further embodiments, a lip 11 may comprise a lip depression whichmay further receive the rim 31 of a barrel 30 within a barrel receivingvalley 42 to arrest the forward movement of the barrel 30. In thisexample, the front restraint member 25 is shown as a lip 11 (sometimescalled barrel hook restraint in some embodiments which may be shaped asan inverted L) and is designed with a curve to cup or mate with thebottom keg rim 31 and break the plain of the keg rim 31 as shown inFIGS. 3, 5, and 11. In FIGS. 5, 8 and 14 a front restraint member 25 isshown by example as a lip 11 which is utilized to restrict forwardmovement of the keg barrel 30. In FIG. 9, the front restraint member 25is shown as an angle restraint plate 67 to engage the keg rim 31 to holda keg barrel 30 in position. FIG. 12 shows a lip 11 engaged with the keghandle 32 to hold a keg barrel 30 in position. FIG. 10 shows a differentembodiment of a front restraint member such as a flexible restraint line68 utilizing the keg handle 32 and coupled to a lateral barrel restraintto restrain or hold a keg barrel 30 in position. It is to be understoodthat the flexible restraint line 68 could be made of cable, chain, ropeor other suitable material. In addition, the position or placement ofthese restraint device(s) are for illustration purposes and are notlimiting.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an example of an alternative cradle 41 is shownand described in detail. The cradle 41 preferably comprises; a frontcradle bar 13 having a front curved barrel cradle bar 13A section and afront straight barrel cradle bar 13B section, a back cradle bar 15having a back curved barrel cradle bar 15A section and a back straightbarrel cradle bar 15B section, and optionally a center cradle bar 14having a center curved barrel cradle bar 14A section and a centerstraight barrel cradle bar 14B section. In this embodiment, first barrelposition 400A, second barrel position 400B, and third barrel position400C are designed with a centrally placed cradle barrel glide 12 or skidplate which allows the barrel 30 to be easily slid into position overthe front curved barrel cradle bar 13A, center curved barrel cradle bar14A, and the back curved barrel cradle bar 15A, thus, each barrelposition 400A/400B/400C serves as a barrel receiving valley 42. Thebarrel glide 12 is preferably configured with a smooth or planar topsurface made from metal or other suitable material. In preferredembodiments, each barrel position 400A, 400B, 400C, is engineered with afront restraint member 25 such as a lip 11 protruding above and awayfrom either the front curved barrel cradle bar 13A or cradle barrelglide 12 to restrict forward movement of the barrel 30 as shown in FIG.9. As also shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 8 each barrel position mayfurther comprise one or more back restraint members 55 positionedopposite to a front restraint member 25 with said back restraint members55 configured to restrict rearward movement of the barrel 30 placedbetween the 41 lateral barrel restraints 64. In this example, the frontrestraint member 25 is designed lip 11 and the back restraint member 55is shown as an inverted L shaped restraint.

FIG. 9 shows a side elevation view of a cradle 41 containing a kegbarrel 30 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.As shown by this example, the cradle 41 is preferably mounted orconfigured to at an angled plain 71 relative to a horizontal plain 70thereby tilting the barrel 30 so that the top end of the barrel 30 israised above the lower end. In preferred embodiments, the angled plain71 is between 5-45 degrees relative to the horizontal plain 70 (thehorizontal plain 70 is generally parallel to the ground). In yet furtherembodiments, the angled plain 71 is preferably between 8-30 degreesrelative to the horizontal plain 70.

Now turning to FIG. 11 in this embodiment, the cradle 41 comprises afront barrel cradle bar 13A slightly higher than center cradle bar 14Aand the back cradle bar 15A. The center cradle bar 14A is slightlyhigher than the back cradle bar 15A and slightly lower that the frontcradle bar 13A. The back cradle bar 15A is slightly lower that the frontcradle bar 13A and the center cradle bar 14A. This design utilizesgravity to position the keg barrel 30 back or bottom rim 31 against theback restraint member 55. In this embodiment, back restraint member 55may comprise a back depression 55A which may further receive the bottomrim 31 of a barrel 30 within a barrel receiving valley 42 to arrest therearward movement of the barrel 30. In alternative embodiment the frontcradle bar 13A, center cradle bar 14A and back cradle bar 15A may be onthe same horizontal plane. In other embodiments the cradle 41 design maybe of any suitable size and shape including cylindrical shaped, ovalshaped, pyramidal shaped, cube shaped, triangle etc. In furtheralternative embodiments, a cradle 41 may comprise a back cradle bar 15Aslightly higher than the center cradle bar 14A and the front barrelcradle bar 13A. The center cradle bar 14A may be slightly higher thanthe front cradle bar 13A and slightly lower that the back cradle bar15A. This design utilizes gravity to position the keg barrel 30 top orupper rim 31 against a front restraint member 25.

In FIG. 13, the vertical storage system 50 may comprise a rigid framingstructure formed by a first vertical support tower 151 and a secondvertical support tower 152 and comprising a front left vertical framemember 101A and a second back left vertical frame member 101B spacedapart from said front left vertical frame member 101A are coupled toleft front support leg 103A and left back support leg 103B at theirlower ends with left front support legs 103A and left back support leg103B configured to make contact with the ground 300 such as the floor ofa warehouse. As shown by a preferred embodiment in FIG. 13, one or moreleft transverse beams 105A may connect the front left vertical framemember 101A and back left vertical frame member 101B to provide rigidityand support to the cradle 41. A left carrier chain 110A (such as a chainwith links or drive belt) is preferably engaged with the left topsprocket wheel (first upper sprocket wheel 121A) at one end and a bottomleft sprocket wheel (first lower sprocket wheel 125A) at opposite ends.The first upper and lower sprocket wheels 121A, 125A preferably containsprockets or teeth to engage with the first carrier chain 110A andfacilitate the rotational movement of the first carrier chain 110A andtherefore the vertical rotation of the cradles 41 about the verticalstorage system 50. Also, in this example, a second rigid framingstructure comprising a second front right vertical frame member 102A anda back right vertical frame member 102B spaced apart from said frontright vertical frame member 102A are coupled to right front support leg104A and right back support leg 104B at their lower ends with rightfront support leg 104A and right back support leg 104B configured tomake contact with the ground 300 such as the floor of a warehouse. Oneor more right transverse beams 105B may connect the front right verticalframe member 102A and back right vertical frame member 102B to providerigidity and support to the cradle 41. A second carrier chain 110B (suchas a chain with links or drive belt) is preferably engaged with a secondupper sprocket wheel 121B at one end and a second lower sprocket wheel125B at an opposite end. The sprocket wheels 121B, 125B preferablycontain sprockets or teeth to engage with the second carrier chain 110Band facilitate the rotational movement of the second carrier chain 110Babout the vertical storage system 50.

Still referring to FIG. 13, in this example, a vertical storage system50 is shown with one keg barrel 30 being carried in the first barrelposition 400A (FIG. 7) of a barrel receiving valley 42 by a rotatingbarrel cradle 41. In preferred embodiments, the vertical storage system50 is configured to removably secure a plurality of keg barrel(s) 30 ina vertical orientation and rotate the plurality of keg barrels 30vertically allowing a user who may be posited at or near the ground 300to access any keg barrel 30 secured by the rotating barrel cradleapparatus 41 within the vertical storage system 50.

In the embodiment shown by FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the left top mountingshaft 123A and the right top mounting shaft 123B are positioned alongthe same axis. Conversely, the bottom left mounting shaft 124A and thebottom right mounting shaft 124B are positioned along the same axis. Amotor 22 such as an electric or gas powered motor may mounted to thetransverse beam 105A, 105B, or vertical frame members 101A, 101B, 102A,102B or at other suitable locations. The motor 22 is configured to drivethe rotational movement of a sprocket wheels 121A, 125A, 121B, 125B, ormultiple sprocket wheels thereby causing the left (first) or right(second) carrier chains 110A, 110B, and the cradles 41 coupled to thechains 110A, 110B, to rotate vertically about the vertical storagesystem 50. One of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts can readilyunderstand how a motor 22 may be operably engaged to drive a sprocketwheel, however, one non-limiting example is provided by FIGS. 13 and 14.

As perhaps best shown in FIGS. 13-16, a rotating vertical storage system50 for barrels 30 may comprising a first vertical support tower 151having a first upper sprocket wheel 121A and a first lower sprocketwheel 125A with a first carrier chain 110A rotationally coupled to afirst upper sprocket wheel 121A and first lower sprocket wheel 125A. Asecond vertical support tower 152 having a second upper sprocket wheel121B and a second lower sprocket wheel 125B with a second carrier chain110B may be rotationally coupled to the upper 121B and lower 125B secondsprocket wheels. The system 50 may also include a first cradle 41 with afirst end 43 coupled to the first carrier chain 110A and with a secondend 44 coupled to the second carrier chain 110B. The cradle 41 maycomprise a plurality of barrel receiving valleys 42 adapted to removablysecure a plurality of barrels 30. A motor 22 may be operably connectedto the first carrier chain 110A and configured to rotate the firstcarrier chain 110A and first cradle 41 in a vertical direction. In someembodiments, a second motor 22 may be operably connected to the secondcarrier chain 110B thereby driving the second carrier chain 110B aroundthe second upper sprocket wheel 121B and second lower sprocket wheel125B. A motor 22 may be operably connected to a carrier chain 110A,110B, in a plurality of ways to transfer rotational motion from themotor 22 to a carrier chain 110A, 110B. For example, a motor 22 may berotationally coupled to a lower sprocket wheel 125A, 125B, so thatrotation of the motor 22 is transferred to the lower sprocket wheel125A, 125B, and then to a carrier chain 110A, 110B, thereby operablyconnecting the motor 22 to the carrier chain 110A, 110B. In anotherexample, a motor 22 may be rotationally coupled to an upper sprocketwheel 121A, 121B, so that rotation of the motor 22 is transferred to theupper sprocket wheel 121A, 121B, and then to a carrier chain 110A, 110B,thereby operably connecting the motor 22 to the carrier chain 110A,110B. In another example, a motor 22 may be rotationally coupleddirectly to a carrier chain 110A, 110B, so that rotation of the motor 22is transferred directly to the carrier chain 110A, 110B, therebyoperably connecting the motor 22 to the carrier chain 110A, 110B. Infurther embodiments, the system 50 may comprise a plurality of barrels30 removably secured within the plurality of barrel receiving valleys42, with the plurality of barrels 30 vertically oriented relative toeach other (FIG. 15 and FIG. 16) and the system 50 may be configured tovertically rotate each of the cradles 41 in a vertical directionallowing the cradles 41 to be moved generally closer to or farther froma floor surface 300 supporting the system 50. A plurality of barrels 30within the plurality of barrel receiving valleys 42 of a cradle 41 maybe horizontally oriented relative to the other barrels 30 within thesame cradle 41 and vertically oriented relative to the other barrelswithin a different cradle 41 as the cradles 41 are moved in a verticaldirection.

Also as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 13-16, a method for verticallystoring a plurality of barrels 30 is provided. In some embodiments, themethod may comprise: providing a first vertical support tower 151secured to a ground surface 300 and having a first upper sprocket wheel121A and a first lower sprocket wheel 125A with a first carrier chain110A rotationally coupled to said upper 121A and lower 125A firstsprocket wheels; providing a second vertical support tower 152 securedto the ground surface 300 and having a second upper sprocket wheel 121Band a second lower sprocket wheel 125B with a second carrier chain 110Brotationally coupled to said upper 121B and lower 125B second sprocketwheels; providing a first cradle 41 with a first end 43 coupled to saidfirst carrier chain 110A and with a second end 44 coupled to said secondcarrier chain 110B, said first cradle 41 comprising a plurality ofbarrel receiving valleys 42 adapted to removably secure a plurality ofbarrels 30; providing a motor 22 operably connected to the first carrierchain 110A of said first vertical support tower 151; placing a firstbarrel 30 into a first barrel receiving valley 42 of the first cradle 41wherein said first cradle 41 is at a first height above the groundsurface 300; and causing the motor 22 to rotate the first carrier chain110A of said first vertical support tower 151 and said first cradle 41so that said first cradle 41 is moved to a second height above theground surface 300.

Now turning to FIGS. 18-22, an example of an alternative embodiment of arotating barrel cradle apparatus 41 is shown and described in detail.The rotating barrel cradle 41 comprises; a top curved barrel containmentbar 83A section, a center curved barrel containment bar 83B section anda bottom curved barrel containment bar 83C section. In this embodiment,first barrel position 400A, second barrel position 400B, and thirdbarrel position 400C, forth barrel position 400D, fifth barrel position400E, sixth barrel position 400F, each form a barrel receiving valley 42and are each designed with a barrel carrier platform 80 which allow thebarrel 30 to be easily transported vertically. The barrel carrierplatform 80 is preferably configured with rollers or a smooth or planartop surface made from metal or other suitable material. In preferredembodiments, each barrel opening 400A & 400B, 400C & 400D, 400E & 400Fis engineered with a front barrel retention bar 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D,20E, 20F to restrict forward movement of the barrel 30 as shown in FIG.18 and FIG. 19.

Still referring to FIGS. 18-22, some alternative embodiments of a cradle41 are provided. Optionally, a side containment bar 81 may function asor be coupled to a carrier load plate 60 (FIGS. 3-11, and 23). In FIG.22 a first barrel position 400A and a second barrel position 400B arerepresented and each position forms a barrel receiving valley 42. Eachbarrel position 400A and 400B are shown in the same opening between sidecontainment bar 81 with a barrel carrier plate 80 to transport thebarrel(s) 30 vertically. This configuration allows for one, two, three,four or more barrels to be stored, picked and transported vertically inthe same opening. In some embodiments, each barrel opening is engineeredwith a front barrel retention bar 20 to restrict forward movement of thebarrel 30 as shown in FIG. 21.

Now turning to FIG. 20, an example is provided that illustrates a frontperspective view of a vertical storage system 50 in accordance to oneembodiment. In this example, a vertical storage system 50 is shown withthree keg barrels 30 being carried in the third, forth, and sixth barrelposition 400C, 400D, and 400F (FIG. 19) by a rotating barrel cradleapparatus 41. In some embodiments, the vertical storage system 50 isconfigured to removably secure a plurality of keg barrel(s) 30 in avertical orientation and rotate the plurality of keg barrels 30vertically allowing a user who may be posited at or near the ground 300to access any keg barrel 30 secured by the cradle 41 within the verticalstorage system 50.

Referring now to FIG. 23, an example showing a second carrier chain 110Battachment mechanism for a cradle 41 of a vertical storage system 50 isprovided. In this example, the cradle 41 is equipped with a horizontalfront carrier load bar 61 and a back carrier load bar 62 that isattached to a vertical carrier load plate 60. The cradle load pin 18 inthis example is designed to attach to the carrier coupling plate 79 byutilizing the carrier coupling plate slot 79A. In this example thesecond carrier chain 110B is equipped with a carrier bolt 78 thatattaches the carrier coupling plate to the main load chain 110B. It isto be understood that the second carrier chain 110B attachment mechanismfor a cradle 41 for a vertical storage system 50 barrel is not limitingand may have multiple designs based on intended applications.Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts willunderstand that the opposite end of the cradle 41 may be connected tothe first carrier load chain 110A in a similar fashion as describedabove.

While some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, theelements that comprise the vertical storage system 50 such as thesupport towers 151, 152, sprocket wheels 121A, 125A, 121B, 125B, carrierchains 110A, 110B, cradle 41, and/or any other element discussed hereinmay be made from durable materials such as aluminum, steel, other metalsand metal alloys, wood, hard rubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforcedplastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, resins, polymers or any othersuitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally,one or more elements may be made from or comprise durable and slightlyflexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or anyother suitable materials including combinations of materials. In someembodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the system 50 maybe coupled or connected together with heat bonding, chemical bonding,adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet typefasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, or anyother suitable joining method. In other embodiments, one or more of theelements that comprise the system 50 may be coupled or removablyconnected by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or morefasteners such as hook and loop type or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic typefasteners, threaded type fasteners, sealable tongue and groovefasteners, snap fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners,ratchet type fasteners, a push-to-lock type connection method, aturn-to-lock type connection method, slide-to-lock type connectionmethod or any other suitable temporary connection method as onereasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the same function.In further embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise thesystem 50 may be coupled by being one of connected to and integrallyformed with another element of the system 50.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described hereinwith reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof,it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatother embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/orachieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples arewithin the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplatedthereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotating vertical storage system for removablysecuring a barrel, the system comprising: a. a first vertical supporttower having a first upper wheel and a first lower wheel with a firstcarrier chain rotationally coupled to said upper and lower first wheels;b. a second vertical support tower having a second upper wheel and asecond lower wheel with a second carrier chain rotationally coupled tosaid upper and lower second wheels; c. a first cradle with a first endcoupled to said first carrier chain and with a second end coupled tosaid second carrier chain and a front carrier load bar positionedbetween the first end and the second end, said cradle comprising abarrel receiving valley configured to removably secure the barrel; andd. a front restraint member positioned above the front carrier load barand configured to block forward movement of the barrel.
 2. The rotatingvertical storage system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofcradles with each cradle having a plurality of barrel receiving valleysadapted to removably secure a plurality of barrels.
 3. The rotatingvertical storage system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality ofbarrels removably secured within the plurality of barrel receivingvalleys, said plurality of barrels vertically and horizontally orientedrelative to each other and the system configured to vertically rotateeach of the cradles in a vertical direction.
 4. The rotating verticalstorage system of claim 1, wherein the first cradle comprises a backrestraint member configured to arrest the rearward movement of thebarrel when placed within the barrel receiving valley of the firstcradle.
 5. The rotating vertical storage system of claim 1, wherein thefront restraint member comprises a lip configured to engage with a rimof the barrel.
 6. The rotating vertical storage system of claim 1,wherein the cradle comprises at least two lateral barrel restraintsconfigured to arrest the lateral movement of the barrel, each lateralbarrel restraint forming a lateral perimeter wall of the barrelreceiving valley.
 7. The rotating vertical storage system of claim 6,wherein the lateral barrel restraints are configured to contact a barrelat a non-right angle relative to the front carrier load bar.
 8. Arotating storage device, the device comprising: a. a first verticalsupport tower having a first upper wheel and a first lower wheel with afirst carrier chain rotationally coupled to said upper and lower firstwheels; b. a second vertical support tower having a second upper wheeland a second lower wheel with a second carrier chain rotationallycoupled to said upper and lower second wheels; c. a first cradle with afirst end coupled to said first carrier chain and with a second endcoupled to said second carrier chain and a front carrier load barpositioned between the first end and the second end; d. a barrelreceiving valley located between the first and the second end of thefirst cradle and where the barrel receiving valley is bordered latterlyby a first lateral barrel restraint and a second lateral barrelrestraint, the first and second lateral barrel restraints having one ofan angled and contoured sidewall suitable for making contact with arounded wall of a keg barrel; and e. a motor for motivating at least oneof the first carrier chain and the second carrier chain.
 9. The deviceof claim 8, wherein the first and second lateral barrel restraintscomprise a receiver slot.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein thereceiver slot is configured to receive a back restraint plate.
 11. Thedevice of claim 8 further comprising a front restraint member positionedabove the front carrier load bar.
 12. A rotating vertical storage systemfor removably securing a barrel, the system comprising: a. a firstvertical support tower having a first upper wheel and a first lowerwheel with a first carrier chain rotationally coupled to said upper andlower first wheels; b. a second vertical support tower having a secondupper wheel and a second lower wheel with a second carrier chainrotationally coupled to said upper and lower second wheels; c. a firstcradle with a first end pivotably coupled to said first carrier chainwith a first carrier load pin and with a second end pivotably coupled tosaid second carrier chain with a second carrier load pin so that thefirst cradle may pivot relative to a horizontal plane; d. a frontcarrier load bar positioned between the first end and the second end,said first cradle comprising a barrel receiving valley configured toremovably secure the barrel; and e. a motor for motivating at least oneof the first carrier chain and the second carrier chain.